CAST: Jang Hyuk, Seo-young Lee, Bang Eun-Jung, Bruce Khan
DIRECTOR: Jae-Hoon Choi
Just a few days ago, Ui-gang (played by Jang Hyuk), a retired assassin, reveled in a contented life beside his wife (portrayed by Bang Eun-jung). However, the serenity abruptly dissipates as a young girl gets abducted in the intense action movie “The Killer,” directed by Choi Jae-hoon. In a gripping scene, Ui-gang finds himself in a tight corridor, confronting a horde of thugs as he strives to rescue the kidnapped girl. Even as an axe narrowly misses his ear, Ui-gang remains unfazed. With unwavering precision, he dispatches two assailants, leaving a group of on-looking tough guys in the elevator astounded and fearful.
Choi deftly constructs the film’s initial segments to culminate in this pivotal juncture: Ui-Gang’s wife suggests embarking on a trip with her friend, who has a teenage daughter named Yoon-ji (portrayed by Lee Seo-young).
A less-than-enthusiastic Ui-gang finds himself entrusted with the task of looking after the young girl during their vacation.
Tragedy strikes shortly after their departure, as the 17-year-old Yoon-ji falls victim to a sex-trafficking ring with connections to Russia. The orchestrator behind this sinister plot has a specific interest in Yoon-ji, and Ui-gang must eliminate this individual to secure the girl’s salvation.
Drawing clear inspiration from the meticulously orchestrated action sequences of films like “John Wick” and “The Man From Nowhere,” “The Killer” delivers impressive action but falls short in the emotional department.
Derived from Bang Jin-ho’s novel “The Girl Who Deserves to Die,” the screenplay by Nam Ji-woong feels underdeveloped, particularly in its treatment of the relationship dynamics between Ui-gang and his wife.
While the agile performance of Jang holds the framework of the intense action scenes together—often portrayed in visceral, slow-motion displays of violence—none of the other characters manage to infuse these scenes with genuine sentiment. As a result, “The Killer” misses the mark in delivering a truly impactful emotional punch.
